Palermo – Sicily’s capital!

Just as mentioned before, a short stay here was enough to become witness of this city’s traffic chaos. Somehow we managed to find a parking lot and we ate the best Panini in the world here. Unfortunately, we can’t remember the place. We have to be more attentive in the future. But don’t be afraid, there is more than one eating option here!

The island’s capital has around 700.000 residents and is Italy’s 5th largest city. It’s Sicily’s political and cultural centre.

History

I don’t want to write so much about the details. But you should be a little bit informed when here. It explains a lot of the cultural and visual appearance of the city.

Phoenicians founded the city in the 8th century B.C., but the time of their cultural prosperity was under the reign of the Normans. The best example for the culture mix is the Cathedral of Palermo: It was first a church, rebuilt to a mosque and then became a church again. It just depended who had the power back then.

The Arabs made Palermo Sicily’s capital and to one of the most important trade centres in the Mediterranean Sea.

With the Normans, Palermo finally became a melting pot of Arab, Jewish, Byzantine and Christian culture.

Lost in Palermo

Somehow Palermo is a moloch and the emissions are unpleasant. Of course, this is not the only city in the world where this is true.

The most beautiful thing about Palermo were the amazing alleys and sometimes hidden little markets. This was the good kind of getting lost, as you get to know a little bit of local’s life. I loved the laundry hanging outside in the narrow alleys. This is what I have in mind when thinking about Italy.

Sightseeing

We already mentioned a little bit before. The good thing is, everything is in walking distance. What we were really mad about: We forgot to see the Fontana Pretoria. We realized that when being stuck in traffic and seeing it from the car.

The mix of Arab and Norman style is best seen in Palermo.

Cathedral Maria Santissima Assunta

The cathedral was built in the 12th century. Over the centuries, it was rebuilt over and over again and impresses visitors as well as locals. For a certain time, it was also used as a mosque.